3 weeks into my journey

It will be three weeks on Saturday since I started my natural journey.  It is amazing how much you pay attention to your hair when you go through such a huge transition.  I have noticed every grey hair, every highlight, and every curl pattern since cutting it off.  Watching it grow these past few weeks has been very educational.  I have become a student of natural hair, desiring to learn everything about clarifying, moisturizing, cleaning and maintaining.  My education has mainly been through blogs.  One of my favorites is Black girl with Long Hair.  I also like Natural resources salon on Facebook.  The creator of this site, also a natural hair stylist, has done so much with natural hair, she is truly amazing.  Follow her! 

My enthusiasm for natural hair is growing everyday.  I have gotten so many compliments on my short cut, even from people that I felt would have something bad to say.  I love the positive feedback, but regardless to what others think I feel strong and beautiful sans relaxed hair.  When I used to listen to my aunt talk about why going natural was both an emotional and spiritual journey, I used to think she was being too deep about it.  Now I fully understand.  For me it has become a journey of myself-a journey that is making me more awareness of my needs, desires and goals. 

Look at my 3-week-old  TWA

Oh Pinterest, how I love thee!

I am a fan of the thrifty and the creative. For this reason I am obsessed with Pinterest.

Pintrest is creativity on steroids.  Pinterest is the only website that can teach you how to make detergent to clean old stains, teach you about art and photography, put a cute outfit together, and make you laugh while you prepare the smoothie with outmeal to replenish you after doing of the workouts you pinned. On pinterest, people who have sat in their houses and came up with great ideas or tried different things can display it to the world. 

This post is random I know; I just had to say that.  Let me finish making this ranch dressing from skim milk and Greek yogurt. 

Optimism is kinda awesome

I've been in a really good mood these past few days.  I am finally beginning to feel like I fit in Orlando.  I have a church home, great colleagues and I even have friends now!  9 long months without friends has made me truly appreciate the value of having girlfriends that I can talk to and have a good time with.  To top it all off, I have one more day of work this week!  I have a laundry list of things that I need to do, but I bet I end up sitting in the house watching TV. I will probably be on Pinterest for hours on end until I can find something to cook, craft or drink.  Hell I might even go to the beach.  Why not? I'm on vacation!  Finally, I have plans for this weekend that I am looking forward to....

Slow and steady wins the race...

I lost two more pounds!

Okay, a little background story.  Since I have been living in Orlando, I have managed to gain 25 lbs!  I honestly don't know what happened...maybe it was the late night eating and up-downs for the couch to the refrigerator.  Whatever caused this, I decided to not take this laying down (after eating Haagen-Das Swiss Vanilla Almond ice cream).  SO I started getting up at 5:45 in the morning and doing at least 45 minutes in the gym 5 days a week.  In three weeks, I have lost 3 lbs.    After two weeks of no weight loss I started to get discouraged.  In my early 20s I could stop drinking soda and lose 6 lbs in one week. Despite my slow weight loss I continued to get up and hit the treadmill then do weight training.  My hard work is starting to show: 3 lbs in one week.  I'm going to try Insanity on Saturday.  I hear it is pretty intense but I think I have built up enough stamina in the past few weeks to give it a try.  I'll let you know how it goes.

The Maturity of Mainstream Media

While looking through a brochure for NuvaRing today I noticed that most of the models in the booklet were natural.  After seeing this I began to look through other magazines, Web sites and television media.  So many media avenues are beginning to embrace a woman's choice to style her tresses sans chemicals.  This is a huge step for natural women of all colors and ethnicities! For decades Mainstream media has pushed a certain "look" onto women.  That look included thin, fair-skinned women with straight long hair.  To see African American, white and multi-racial women with naturally curly hair of all lengths and styles throughout the mainstream media is truly awesome.  Society is finally attempting to break the mold that was expected of women for so long; instead society is beginning to embrace the individuality of women.

When life gives you lemons

...make a skinny margarita; it's less calories! 

Sounds silly, but this is a great coping mechanism when your first reaction is to have a pity party.  It is so easy for me to get wrapped up in the fact that I am lacking a love life.  I would love to go on a date, or have a crush on a guy, or smize across the room to a handsome gentleman.  I often find myself singing the "why me" song, but today in class one of my students said something so profound.  When asked why she was a morning person her reply was, "It's a new day".  It truly is! That comment gave me SO much perspective.  Waking up in the morning is truly a blessing. Waking up with sound mind and body is even more of a blessing.  Instead of harping on the shoulda, coulda, wouldas, why not focus on the blessings?  They will bring so much more meaning to your life.

Now time to practice what I preach...

"Finger" coils

While I was at work today (don't judge me) I stumbled across a really good YouTube clip about finger coils.  Instead of spending ALL day finger coiling your hair, you can use a hairbrush to get the job done.  I can not WAIT until my hair is long enough to do this!

Quick "finger" coils- define your TWA